"Okay!" Hikari exclaimed, with a fist pump in the air, as she slowly rose to her feet. But now she had a bit of a problem. The messenger had just run off, and now Hikari had absolutely no idea which way to go to see the Daimyo.

"Rats!" Hiakri muttered to herself, as she began wandering around the rather large castle, trying to find her way. Hiakri then turned a corner and ran smack dab into another moving body. She quickly regained her balance though without falling, after all she was a *very* good Samurai who was quick on her feet.

Hikari's hand instictually went to her sword hanging from her waist, as she looked at the person before her. The person was another young female like herself, roughly about the same height at Hikari also. The other girl also had short, dark, slightly-spiky hair, and intense brown eyes.

Hiakri went into a slight fighter's stance as she waited to see what the other girl would do. Though Hikari was usually a very carefree spirit, she had learned from her many travels on the road with and without her 'fathers', that one should *always* exercise caution when confronted with the unknown.

She quickly regained her balance though without falling, after all she was a *very* good Samurai who was quick on her feet.

Hikari's hand instictually went to her sword hanging from her waist, as she looked at the person before her. The person was another young female like herself, roughly about the same height at Hikari also. The other girl also had short, dark, slightly-spiky hair, and intense brown eyes.

Hiakri went into a slight fighter's stance as she waited to see what the other girl would do. Though Hikari was usually a very carefree spirit, she had learned from her many travels on the road with and without her 'fathers', that one should *always* exercise caution when confronted with the unknown.

And right now the other girl was a very big unknown.

Sharp eyes looked the swordswoman up and down, eyeing the stance she took. The warrior, who she guessed was a ronin was well-dressed and obviously here for a reason. The ninja was pretty sure what that reason was. Haruka sighed and placed a hand on her hip. "I work for the Daimyo, Ronin. Relax." Even as she said this, she herself did not relax. It was force of habit.

She had a few weapons on her, having left a few since she had been so late to the meeting. Making eye contact with the girl before her, she made a simple observation. "You look lost. Searching for the Daimyo?"

Genji stood with his hands in the air, taking on a defensive position.

"Now, attack!" he shouted at her.

Hanami smirked, and drew in a big breath. Raising her arms, she began to run forward, targeting the top of Genji's head. She knew it was a basic attack, easily countered by anyone learning kendo, and especially by Genji, her teacher, but she had a plan. And a back-up plan. She just needed that perfect opening. No, she won't be as na´ve as she was before. Her training with Genji had improved her skills a lot. And she knew that.

Sharp eyes looked the swordswoman up and down, eyeing the stance she took. The warrior, who she guessed was a ronin was well-dressed and obviously here for a reason. The ninja was pretty sure what that reason was. Haruka sighed and placed a hand on her hip. "I work for the Daimyo, Ronin. Relax." Even as she said this, she herself did not relax. It was force of habit.

She had a few weapons on her, having left a few since she had been so late to the meeting. Making eye contact with the girl before her, she made a simple observation. "You look lost. Searching for the Daimyo?"

(OOC - Actually I should have mentioned that the clothes that Hikari is wearing in the pics I posted *aren't* the clothes that she's wearing in this RP She wears something very similar to what her 'father' Mugen wears, even down to the shoes (Geta) This is the look I envision her in :3

"Ah! Yes, I am looking for him actually," Hikari said excitedly, as she hurriedly sheathed her blade. "Do you by any chance know where I can find him," Hikari asked with a curious tilt of her head.

Haruka nodded. "Of course." She made a gesture to one of the many hallways, before heading in that direction, hands resting at her sides. "May I ask your name, Ronin?" She asked in a conversational tone. Might as well get to know the girl if she'd be working with her...

"Hikari is the name! I *do* have a last name, but you can just call me Hikari," said Ronin replied to the other girl with a slight smirk.

"So, what's your name, and what business do you do for the Daimyo? I'm just looking for a little extra work. A wandering Samurai does have to eat," Hikari said, as she placed her hands behind her head, and continued to follow the other girl through the massive castle.

"Hikari is the name! I *do* have a last name, but you can just call me Hikari," said Ronin replied to the other girl with a slight smirk.

"So, what's your name, and what business do you do for the Daimyo? I'm just looking for a little extra work. A wandering Samurai does have to eat," Hikari said, as she placed her hands behind her head, and continued to follow the other girl through the massive castle.

"My name is Haruka. What business I do for the Daimyo is currently none of yours, but I may tell you later." Haruka grinned a little. She was SUPPOSED to be doing her job. Really, she was. But who can say no to a lost ronin? Well. That was her excuse, anyway. She was in no hurry to do her assigned task. Put together a ninja squad... Haruka never did work well with others. Which would probably explain her current profession.

They were almost there-- The damn castle was too big, but Haruka knew her way around well-enough by now.

Genji smiled although it was unseen, however he knew she could tell how he felt. "Good, Very Good!" You attacked without fear! Remember, your enemy will always try to take advantage of you. And fear is a very useful weapon! If you can avoid being taken off guard, that is one more weapon the enemy cannot use against you. Also! Very good work you went straight for my head, your accuracy is stunning. Excellent work!

"My name is Haruka. What business I do for the Daimyo is currently none of yours, but I may tell you later." Haruka grinned a little. She was SUPPOSED to be doing her job. Really, she was. But who can say no to a lost ronin? Well. That was her excuse, anyway. She was in no hurry to do her assigned task. Put together a ninja squad... Haruka never did work well with others. Which would probably explain her current profession.

They were almost there-- The damn castle was too big, but Haruka knew her way around well-enough by now.

FINALLY Hikari with her new companion Haruka arrived at the door to the Daimyo's private chambers.

"So, he's in there?" Hikari asked Haruka, as she looked over at the dark-haired girl.

"He's rarely anywhere else," The ninja murmured, "When he's not destroying instruments and tables at meetings." It was muttered under her breath. Haruka sometimes thought out loud.

With a sigh, she opened the door. "Mi'Lord, someone's here to see you." Her voice changed tone to something more polite, more formal. Much different from the tone she spoke to Hikari before. She stepped inside, allowing Hikari to walk through the doorway.

Hideaki looked at Haruka. " I see you run your mouth easily, kunoichi. " His fake-smile could be seen to break into a vengeful fit face. " ...Welcome...ah..name? " The young man fanned his tensou with some intensity. The alcohol related-prayers rose to his head like fever.

Hideaki looked at Haruka. " I see you run your mouth easily, kunoichi. " His fake-smile could be seen to break into a vengeful fit face. " ...Welcome...ah..name? " The young man fanned his tensou with some intensity. The alcohol related-prayers rose to his head like fever.

"Ah, Lord Daimyo. My name is Hikari. I'm just a wandering Ronin looking for a little work. Would the good Lord have anything that I could assist him with?" Hikari asked, as she gave the Daimyo a respectful bow.

" You can call me lord Hideaki. Or just lord. " The young man placed the fan down. " You'll be helping mostly with the lower parts of the army , probably doing jobs for Genji and Haruka. Mostly Haruka. I feel sometimes she misses the point of her job. " He chanted grinning slightly at the ninja. They were friends. But their opinions clashed.

" I'm going to give you half the pay I usually do to my other men, considering the dangers of accepting unknown working hands. I need your full name and your contacts so I can catalogue you in the midst of the other soldiers and retainers. If you want more money, you work more. Understood? " Hideaki didn't faltered, he began writing shifty and looking at the woman.

" Well? Are you going to speak or do I have to guess your full name and where you were born? " He asked as his left hand, the non-writing one began to tap the table.

"Of course, milord. My full name is Fujino Hikari. The only contacts that I have in this world are my two 'fathers', who are also wandering Ronin. Their names are Mugen and Jin. I regret that I can not give you their last names milord, as that is a strict family secret that I have been honour-sworn never to give, unless they give me their express permission to do so," Hikari said as she bowed once more at the Daimyo, before straightening up and then turning her face slightly to the side to look at Haruka.

"Looks like you got yourself a Ronin," Hiakri said to the spiky-haired girl with a grin. Hiakri then turned her attention back towards the Daimyo and asked him, "is there anything else that you wish of me, my lord?"

Genji smiled although it was unseen, however he knew she could tell how he felt. "Good, Very Good!" You attacked without fear! Remember, your enemy will always try to take advantage of you. And fear is a very useful weapon! If you can avoid being taken off guard, that is one more weapon the enemy cannot use against you. Also! Very good work you went straight for my head, your accuracy is stunning. Excellent work!

She smiled at his words, never letting her grip of her 'shinai' falter. It stayed at his head, and she had to keep herself from laughing. Maybe she can even break that mask off! "Thank you for you compliments, Genji-san. I try my best to never let my guard down. However ... I'm not done yet!"

Her left foot, in its current position, enabled her to turn around freely. She took the sword away from Genji's head, and proceeded to hit his side, when she broke down instead. Her hands suddenly released her 'shinai', and she clutched her head, screaming in pain. She felt pulling her brown hair off.

"The envelope in brother's chambers ... I need to see it again."

"I'm sorry, Genji-san. I feel ... a bit, nauseous. I must be tired, for this day was quite eventful." she smiled at him. "Anyway, if you want, we can continue."

Grabbing her 'shinai' which fell beside her, she stood up, her eyes dazed. Her eyesight was unbelievably blurry.

" I see you and lazy-girl here have met. You'll be working with her. Whack her in the face to wake up early in the morning. That's all. "

The young man got up as he placed the sheet in a secret folder.

" ...Haruka. Take Hikari and go do your job. Explain her the mission. And don't fail me. We're going to war. And you'll be in the front lines. I advice you get some allies. " With that the daimyo hide the folder inside a drawer and sat back down.

She smiled at his words, never letting her grip of her 'shinai' falter. It stayed at his head, and she had to keep herself from laughing. Maybe she can even break that mask off! "Thank you for you compliments, Genji-san. I try my best to never let my guard down. However ... I'm not done yet!"

Her left foot, in its current position, enabled her to turn around freely. She took the sword away from Genji's head, and proceeded to hit his side, when she broke down instead. Her hands suddenly released her 'shinai', and she clutched her head, screaming in pain. She felt pulling her brown hair off.

"The envelope in brother's chambers ... I need to see it again."

"I'm sorry, Genji-san. I feel ... a bit, nauseous. I must be tired, for this day was quite eventful." she smiled at him. "Anyway, if you want, we can continue."

Grabbing her 'shinai' which fell beside her, she stood up, her eyes dazed. Her eyesight was unbelievably blurry.

And, she did put the 'shinai' down, resting against it. "I think so. But, I'm fine, really. No need for a doctor." she laughed. "I just need some rest."

She gave his 'shinai' to him, requesting that he should hold onto it, until she wakes up. And, slowly, she made her way back to her room.

She took off her armor, revealing the simple, white robe she wore inside. She smiled, thinking how dirty she was, and just crawled under her sheets, falling asleep instantly.

"The envelope ... The small, brown envelope in her brother's chambers ... It was about my father and mother ... My parents. Why didn't Hideaki-niisan show it to me? I would have understood quickly, but, I still need more information about that, before I ask him about it. That's why I need to see it again. I wasn't able to read the whole thing, because they came in suddenly."

She turned around in her bed.

"Father ... is it true that Mother died because of me?"

She turned again.

"Are you mad at me, that you never saw her again?"

Her sheets rolled around her body, and sweat trickled down her face.

"I don't even know how she looked like."

She sat up, clutching her hair again. She screamed. Not for the massive headache. Not because of the pain. But, because of her mother, and how they never told her the truth.